CES 2015 – Taking a crack at what the New Year will bring, at least to the display industry – we’re about to join the festivities at the yearly compendium of what’s new, gadget-wise – yes, it’s the annual Consumer Electronics Show, and yet another chance to see what will excite dealers (and the public) – or blow hot air at us – this coming year. Of most interest to us are the following innovative segments that feature video displays.
Wearable Electronics – Since we saw the first bendable large-screen displays – to mostly yawns – observers have wondered, is there a useful application? The answer may be in wearable electronics: smart watches and smart bands. With health-promoting devices starting to gain consumer interest, a truly flexible display, worn on the wrist, for instance, could offer a level of comfort that a one-size-fits-all device can’t match. Combine this with a touch screen (something that has recently been achieved) and you could have a winner, provided the user interface provides the wearer with what they need.
Telematics – The integration of GPS, car stereo and vehicle environmental control with internet capability is still, amazingly, in its infancy, having first hit high-end automobiles and now working its way into the mainstream. At the same time, car manufacturers are treading cautiously to avoid any new consumer-safety backlash. Nonetheless, the desire to have more information on the dashboard appears to be strong, so we should expect to see new user interfaces to appear in these systems soon.
Flying Video Platforms – Despite government pushback, developers and integrators of unmanned aerial vehicles – UAVs (or the much despised synonym, “drones”) – have seen a surge of interest from both hobbyists and professionals. While the FAA has issued limited authorizations for the devices – mainly to filmmakers and to Amazon Inc., for “development” purposes – current regulations are interpreted as forbidding all but limited hobbyist use, which means commercial use is currently not permitted.
Home automation – While an integrated home management system seems to evade both manufacturers and consumer interest, smart thermostats, like the innovative Nest, seem to be catching on – albeit slowly. While critically acclaimed, the relatively high cost of the front runner has so far limited its appeal to affluent early adopters. It would not surprise us to see a batch of Far-East copycats emerge this year, provided they don’t get tangled up in any intellectual property issues.
Of course, we’ve only scratched the surface here, limiting our focus to certain display-oriented devices. Keep tabs this coming week, as we all dive into the next evolution of CE. – Aldo Cugnini
